Help with Japanese WWII markings

[GeekEGuy]

I'm hoping someone can point me at an article that describes the markings of Japanese aircraft. I'm mostly interested in the markings of Japanese aircraft that participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942).

I see markings like single red bands, single blue, double blue, no bands at all. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Micdrow]

Not and easy question to answer. Are you talking about the Japanese army aircraft or Japanese Navy aircraft. Below is a link to some of the code prefixes for IJNAF units.

Unit Prefixes, by Jim Lansdale

A good source on Japanese army markings is the book below
Emblems of the Rising Sun, Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Unit Markings by Peter Scott Isbn 1-902109-55-4

Hope that helps.

[GeekEGuy]

Originally Posted by Micdrow

Not and easy question to answer. Are you talking about the Japanese army aircraft or Japanese Navy aircraft. Below is a link to some of the code prefixes for IJNAF units.

Unit Prefixes, by Jim Lansdale

A good source on Japanese army markings is the book below
Emblems of the Rising Sun, Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Unit Markings by Peter Scott Isbn 1-902109-55-4

Hope that helps.

That is a great start. Thanks for the quick reply. To be more specific, I was looking for Navy aircraft attached to the Shoho.

[Micdrow]

Originally Posted by GeekEGuy

That is a great start. Thanks for the quick reply. To be more specific, I was looking for Navy aircraft attached to the Shoho.

Maybe this will help also. From the osprey air war series Japanese carrier air groups 1941-1945 by Rene J Francillion

[GeekEGuy]

Originally Posted by Micdrow

Maybe this will help also. From the osprey air war series Japanese carrier air groups 1941-1945 by Rene J Francillion

Beautiful! Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for.

[Micdrow]

Your welcome!!!

[Wayne Little]

Just to back up Micdrows info.....The battle of the Coral Sea was IIRC the first battle solely using carrier aircraft.

The Japanese carriers that participated were the Fleet Carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku of the 5th Carrier Division and the light carrier Shoho, 4th Carrier Division.

Shokaku used a single white band and carried the markings EI-XXX, while Zuikaku aircraft two white bands, EII-XXX.
Shoho carried two yellow fuselage bands and coding of DII-XXX, Shoho had the distinction of being the first aircraft carrier to be sunk in WWII, USS Lexington followed not long after, as the first US carrier...

[Gman]

The fuselage bands and rudder stripes were typically the sole realm of flight leaders (C.O., group leader, etc.). The colors of these bands and stripes usually depended on the region, carrier, or carrier group that these aircraft belonged to, and there were a huge variety of styles ranging from fuselage chevrons to simple bands. The number of rudder stripes and the width were also signs of the pilot's rank within the squadron.
I strongly recommend "Japanese Naval Air Force Camouflage and Markings World War II" by Donald W. Thorpe (1977 ISBN 0-8168-6587-6 pbk). As I recall, this book is pretty definitive from Hinomaru diameter size to the white outline width surrounding it, to the carrier designations (eg:AI-XXX), to those stripes and bands and their meanings. Hard to find, though- but well worth the effort. Good luck!